August 27, 2008 – Madison, WI
Alcohol and speed were "significant contributing factors" to the crash that killed three UW-Madison
students. Richard Putze of Milwaukee was the driver of the car that crashed into a tree on South
Midvale between Mineral Point Road and Regent Street. He had a blood alcohol content of 0.144,
almost two times the legal limit of 0.08 in Wisconsin. Putze was pronounced dead at the scene while
Myers and Plank died later Wednesday at UW Hospital.